Summer Festivities in Brno

Summers in general are my most hated seasons. I hate being sweaty, and I hate the explosion of the mosquito population during these months. It does not help that the Czech Rep is not big on AC, and that temperature swings from a rainy 15C to a humid 28C in the course of 24 hours have left me with a slight cold isn't enough to make me feel sick just miserable. Few things are more uncomfortable, while not actually considered sick, than being sweaty as being sweaty, congested, and having a slight cough.

However, one of nice things about Summers is that cities generally take it on themselves to try to get their populations out and about by providing free entertainment in their downtown/ central square areas. Thankfully Brno is certainly not an exception half the week the main square Namesti Svobody "Freedom Square" will host some kind of concert or performance for people wishing to bask in the sun before a late sunset or enjoying a drink to cool of from residual evening heat.

Below a quick video, sorry for the shaking, of a Jazz concert typical of a Saturday night in Brno.



Also I've recently made some inroads into the Brno expat community. The group of AIESEC interns like myself is itself a mini community, but I've found it interesting to compare notes on experiences with the community at large. With companies like IBM and AT&T having large offices in Brno it seems a little weird that they're mostly staffed by foreigners, but their presence is probably the largest factor in rapidly transforming the city into one that can actively engage with foreigners as tourists or residents (it still isn't at adequate levels, but it's certainly made progress from what I heard it was like 2 years ago.)

Within the group I tend to hang out with are two fellow Americans Kyle and Chris working as English instructors, who call me out on how my English has degraded whenever my pronunciation tends to get warbled. Ulrike, a German instructor/tutor, who has turned into my social 411 for events going on around the city. Dario, who loves to call me "Californication" instead of my name, and fulfilling my growing stereotype that all Italians must be awesome at music plays a really impressive improvisational guitar (shown below.)